Comparing preventive visits of children in foster care with other children in Medicaid.

OBJECTIVE

This study compared preventive medical and dental visits of Georgia children in foster care with other children enrolled in Medicaid to determine if utilization differed.

METHODS

Two logistic regressions estimated the likelihood of an annual Health Check screening and the likelihood of at least one dental visit.

RESULTS

Compared with children in foster care, children in the adoption assistance ([AOR] .37, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.35-0.40), SSI (AOR .37, 95% CI = 0.35-0.38) and low-income (AOR .40, 95% CI = 0.39-0.42) Medicaid categories were less likely to receive an annual Health Check screening. Children in adoption assistance were also less likely to have a dental visit during the study period.

CONCLUSION

Policies require a Health Check visit upon placement into foster care and annual check-ups consistent with pediatric guidelines; we found more Early and Periodic Screening, Detection, and Treatment screenings for foster care children in Georgia than for other children receiving Medicaid.